Electric lighting system



24, 1948. w. J. CHESHIER, JR, ET AL 2,447,736

ELECTRIC LIGHTING SYSTEM Filed July 12, 1946 INVENTOR.

Patented Aug. 24, 1948 ELECTRIC LIGHTING SYSTEM W. J. Cheshier and Elton E. Cheshier, Rotan, Tex.

Application July 12, 1946, Serial No. 683,057

1 Claim.

The present invention relates to electric lighting systems and is more particularly concerned with an auxiliary light circuit in association with the main circuit to operate in certain emergencies.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a system of circuits for lighting purposes wherein an auxiliary lighting circuit is associated with means in the main circuit to automatically shut off the current when a technical short in the main circuit puts out the regular lights and shunts the current to a reserve light in the auxiliary circuit.

Another object of the invention is to provide a simple and inexpensive adjunct of the character referred to which can be readily connected to the said automatic shut-off means and operates instantaneously when a technical short in the main light circuit puts out the lighting device or devices energized thereby.

With the foregoing and other objects and advantages in view the invention consists of the novel construction, arrangement and combinatio of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawing illustrating the invention, Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view showing the auxiliary light circuit in its relation to the main lighting circuit.

Figure 2 is an enlarged diagrammatic view of a detail of Figure 1.

Like reference characters, as used in the description and drawing, designate the same parts of construction.

All too frequently the driver of a motor vehicle is confronted with a short circuit affecting his headlights and the fog light also, if there is one on the car. If running at night a stop by the roadside to make repairs is necessitated. Such stops may be for long periods and not infrequently the car may not proceed because the short cannot be remedied. In such an event an emergency light would be very desirable, especially one which is already installed and automatically efiective.

Such an auxiliary light is herein provided for and it may be installed on any motor vehicle ready for use and automatically operative when a technical short occurs and the headlights are thereby caused to go out. This device allows the driver to continue on his way, regardless of the failure of his main lights.

Referring now to the schematic view of the drawing, l designates two grounded headlights of the motor vehicle and II the circuit wiring to a battery B which is grounded, as at G. In said circuit is a conventional control switch S and a circuit-breaker I2.

If the vehicle carries a fog lamp it will be Wired in circuit with said headlights according to common practice. While one is not here included it will be understood that the present invention is applicable in either case.

The system of lighting herein provided for comprises an auxiliary lamp l3 preferably designed for use as a fog light, with circuit wires l4 having suitable terminals for attachment to a circuitbreaker or a fuse block whichever is available. The lamp [3 is preferably clamped on the front bumper of the vehicle the left side thereof being more useful and the two wires 14 are run through the grill and thence to the frame and over to the nre wall or kick board. To facilitate installation, a suitable aperture is drilled in the fire wall and the wires are passed through to the inside of the vehicle under the dash. When thus installed the wires of this auxiliary circuit are connected to two contacts of the circuit-breaker I2 as indicated in the drawing. If there is no circuit-breaker on the car undoubtedly there will be a fuse block and the wires I4 can be connected to the terminals of the fuse jack.

Figure 2 discloses a suitable form of circuit breaker which comprises a binding post 23 operatively connected to the lead [5 from the battery 13. A lead ll from the post 26 connects to the coil it of a magnet I9 having a movable armature 2B. A spring 2| loads the armature for movement away from the core IQ of the magnet. A contact 22 on the end of the armature 20 normally contacts a stationary contact 23 on a lead 24 operatively connected to a second binding post 28. A lead I6 connects the binding post 28 to the switch S. A third binding post 21 is connected by a lead 25 to the binding post 28. The binding posts 25 and 21 are connected respectively to the leads M of the auxiliary light l3. In the operation of the circuit breaker of Figure 2, the resistance in the coil I8 is normally insufficient to overcome the resistance of the spring 2i, whereby the armature 20, together with its contact 22, maintains a circuit through the stationary contact 23. However, upon the occurrence of an overload in the lead l6 or II, the core IQ of the magnet is energized sufiiciently to draw the armature 2E3 thereto, whereby to break the circuit to the lead It. When this occurs, a free end 29 of the armature 20 is engaged over the dog 30 of any suitable lockout device 3!, whereby the armature is maintained with its contact 22 out of engagement with the stationary contact 23. However, current from the battery B now flows through the lead IS, the lefthand lead M, the light l3, the right-hand lead [4, lead 25 to the main lead It and grounds at the point where the ground fault has occurred.

It will be understood that said auxiliary circuit is not designed to function on an open circuit. It only functions in case of a technical short in the main circuit, as contradistinguished from a mere blow out of a lamp because of a burnt filament. Headlights are. usually grounded and when a lamp burns out the ground is not necessarily lost.

With occurrence of a short circuit, as commonly referred to in the art and usually the result of a short in the control switch, a break'in one of the circuit wires or worn insulation; current:

to the lamps fails to pass the point of the short. In such an event, with this auxiliary lamp wired to the circuit-breaker or fuse block", as hereinbefore explained, the latter automatically shunts the current in the main circuit to the auxiliary circuitand the lamp therein instantaneously comes, on, the short in. the main circuit. providing the necessary ground for same.

The components required for the herein described installation are few andsimple and can be manufactured at a low cost. They canbe readily attached to any motor vehicle or. can be compactly packaged for carriage. in the. vehicle as a safeguard against accidents due to driving without headlights in operation at night. aforesaid installation may also be employed for lighting circuits whereused'for other than automobile lamps.

The.

As different embodiments may be made of this inventive concept and modifications may be made in the embodiment hereinbefore shown and described, it will be understood that the matter herein is to be interpreted as illustrative merely, and not in a limiting sense.

What we claim is:

In a. grounded electric circuit, a circuit breaker, a main nergy-consuming device in series therewith and connected to ground, said circuit breaker being adapted to break said circuit upon the occurrence of a ground fault between said device andsaid circuit breaker, an ungrounded auxiliary energy-consuming device, means connecting said second device and said circuit breaker in parallel, and said second device being adapted to be grounded upon the occurrence of the ground fault between said circuit breaker and said first device.

W. J. CHE'SHIER. ELTON E. CHESHIER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 340,717 I-Iolt Apr. 27, 1886 1,132,008 Hawkins Mar. 16, 1915 1,925,200 Miller Sept. 5, 1933 2,094,759 Snyder Oct. 5, 1937 

